[The isolation and structure of tripchlorolide (T4) from Tripterygium wilfordii]

A new compound named tripchlorolide was isolated from Total Glucosides (T II) extracted from the woody part of the root of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. Tripchlorolide (T4) was obtained as white needle-like crystals, mp 256-258 degrees C. Its molecular formula is C20H25O6Cl. The structure of T4 was elucidated on the basis of spectral (UV, IR, MS, FTMS/SCI, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-1H cosy, 13C-1H cosy) analyses, X-ray and chemical evidence. In preliminary pharmacologic assay, tripchlorolide showed definite anti-inflammatory actions and strong immunosuppressive and antifertile activities, the potency of the latter being 100 times stronger than that of T II.